“Football for me is like beer is for most people,” says Wayne Rooney, in his official biography titled, ‘My Decade in the Premier League’. Co-authored with Matt Allen. The biography chronicles the journey of Wayne Rooney – from a sixteen year old prodigy at Everton, to a prolific striker of the ball for United. In his foreword, Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United boss, gives us an interesting glimpse of Rooney’s controversial tiffs with referees and his other transgressions.
The book begins with an account of Rooney’s most talked about goal in the Premier League Football. Often called the ‘bicycle kick’, his goal against Manchester City gave United the much needed impetus to grab the Premier League Title. His scintillating debut (under heavy downpour) against Turkish opponents in a Champions League match, made him a super star overnight. However, Rooney admits that his most memorable moment remains – emerging out of the tunnel wearing a team jersey, in front of 67,000 people.
Particularly interesting are the sections where Rooney talks about the respect Ferguson commands, and the famous ‘hairdryer’ treatment meted out for players who under-perform in a game. Rooney adopts a pitch that remains candid throughout the book, as he talks about his weight issues, his hair transplant, his injuries and the times when he was dropped by Sir Alex Ferguson.
The biography offers great insight into the critical moments of the game played for FA Cups, League Cups and Champions League adventures. It is a must read for sports lovers – particularly United fans, who consider Rooney a football legend.
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